Exclusive! Actor Rushad Rana says films and OTT are better to work on but he'll always have soft corner for TV

Actor Rushad Rana is having a busy year. After Aashram 3 and Modern Love: Mumbai, he will next appear in the MX Player show, Miya Biwi Aur Murder, which also stars Rajeev Khandelwal and Manjari Fadnnis. All this while juggling between his TV shows, Anupamaa and Kumkum Bhagya. Directed by Sachin Manchanda, Miya Biwi Aur Murder is releasing on MX Player on July 1. The actor will appear in a never-before-seen role of a gangster and his looks as Abbas has been creating quite a stir online since the trailer of the show was released.

In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, Rushad Rana talked about the show, his dreadful look and deadpan expressions for his character, his journey of over two decades in the entertainment industry and more. Excerpts:

Your show Miya, Biwi Aur Murder looks really very interesting. There's drama, there's murder, there's mystery and also comedy. It looks like a roller coaster ride. Am I right? How would you describe the show?

Yes, yes, you're absolutely right. It is actually a roller coaster ride. Ismein har tarah ke emotions hai. Thrill hai, comedy hai, confusion hai. I think you very rightly described that it is going to be a roller coaster ride for the audience. I'm feeling very excited. Mujhe besabri se intezaar hai July 1 ka. People are loving the trailer, look of the show. People are loving my look in the show. So, I am very excited for July 1. I can't wait for people to watch it on MX Player.

You play a role of a gangster. We haven't seen you much in a negative role. So could you tell us about the character and how did you prepare for it?

First of all, I play the character of gangster named Abbas and we prepared a lot because they (makers of the show) had to change the way I look. When I auditioned for the part, I was very specifically told that you know the way you look, obviously, we can't have you play the role of Abbas. Our director Sunil Manchanda and the entire team worked really hard on the look. They kept adding things to my character which would make me look dreadful, and hard-hitting and that's how the look for Abbas was devised. Also, the scenes are so well-written. There were meaty scenes for Abbas and it was great to get on the sets and perform them.

Like you mentioned you look a bit dreadful and intense, especially with that scar all the gold chains, so did you improvise as well for it? What is the story behind that scar?

I didn't improvise. In every sitting, Sunil sir came up with something new, that he wanted to add to me. First, when I was locked for the role, he told me to stop shaving. We want you to look stubborn for the role. The next time when I went, he told me 'I think I will give you a gel look'. In the next sitting, I was given lenses to have that very conniving kind of a look. Ultimately, the scar came in and all the good, all these things were added to me. So it was not my improvisation. The entire credit goes to the creative team for that. And yes, I was told to keep one thing in mind for my character. I have to look very deadpan at all times. Ye ek banda hai jo kaafi emotionless hai. Uske chehre pe bhi kaafi kam emotions dikhayi dete hai. There was a lot I had to convey with my eyes, keeping a very deadpan look. It was a little difficult but with several rehearsals, I think we got there where they wanted me to be.

Could you tell us how did you get the role and why did you decide to do it? What was it that attracted you to it?

It looked like a very interesting part. I've never done something like this before. So with the audition itself, I was pretty kicked about getting the part. The casting team got in touch with me and they asked me to audition for it. And Sunil Manchanda sir liked my audition and called me for a meeting and he asked me to do an audition again because he found so few things missing. He was very specific about how he wanted me to do the lines and everything. I did an audition again according to the requirements and then finally, they locked me for the part.

In the trailer, you look a bit intense and dreadful. Then, there is that line towards the end of the trailer when the goon asks darwaza tod du kya, you ask kyun, Daya hai kya? It cracked me up. How was it shooting that scene?

When I was doing that line, padke bhi mujhe hasi aayi thi. After watching the trailer, like the audience and you said, mujhe bhi kaafi hasi aayi. I did not realise the kind of impact the line is going to make. There are more such fun dialogues throughout the show. Show mein mazedaar situations hai, isliye inko karne mein itna maza aaya.

How's the experience working on the show? Can you share some anecdotes about working with Rajiv, Manjiri and other actors?

Well, it was a wonderful experience working on the show and it was a relatively very small unit because we immediately went on the floor after the first wave of COVID-19 and we shot it. It was quite a small unit and everyone was working together, keeping the precautions in mind. And Rajiv and Manjari are wonderful people to work with. Rajeev ko main thode pehle se jaanta hu. I used to meet him socially once in a while at awards and parties. But I met Manjari and interacted with her for the first time. They are both lovely people to work with. Even the rest of the cast who have played roles in the show are very nice. In the climax, we all come together. We were all together for the shoot and it was great to do it with all like-minded people working together. It's a pretty funny script to wo karte karte bhi hamein kayi baar hasi aa jati thi. Bahut maza aaya hum ko karne mein.

Any particular scene that was the most challenging to shoot?

My introduction scene in the show for me was the most challenging to shoot. I was quite apprehensive about how I will do it. The scene has me questioning a goon. Mera ek banda hai jo galat kaam karte huye pakda gaya hai, so I am questioning him. That was the most challenging scene for me. After shooting that scene, mujhe laga ke kahin na kahin wo character pakad mein aa gaya hai.

It seems like you've been having a hectic year juggling between TV, web series and films. You did Modern Love Mumbai, Aashram and now, you have Miya Biwi Aur Murder and Judaa Hoke Bhi. How does that feel? How have you been managing different projects?

At times, it gets a little tricky and at times, you have to make adjustments. But I think it's all worth it. Like you said it's been a very busy year. It's been a year full of great releases. We are in the sixth month of the year and already, three-four good projects have been released and now, Miya, Biwi Aur Murder is releasing. Judaa Hoke Bhi is coming out in the same month. So I just feel very happy. And I just hope that this just grows and get better and better. Ye ho gaya to mujhe ab shaanti se nahi baithna hai. I just want to keep doing much, much more and better Work.

You've done a lot of TV. Many actors say that when they go for an OTT show, it's like a breath of fresh air because you get more time to prepare and the shoot is also wrapped up sooner unlike in TV, which goes on for years. So how has that transition been like and has the TV experience anyway helped you while working on OTT?

Well, definitely the TV experience has definitely helped me to become a better actor, a sharper actor because you are in the practice of working every day. And whereas OTT is concerned, you very rightly said that there is a lot more luxury to prepare for your role or aap ko pata hai ke ek project khatam ho gaya to you are done with the project. You feel okay, this is one more good feather in my cap. But having said that, I also enjoy doing TV. I know many actors who are unhappy doing TV but I am someone who enjoys TV also. On TV, I did a good role in Anupamaa. It was very exciting for me. I am doing Kumkum Bhagya, which is a lovely and superb team to work with. I think the medium is different but the experiences are pretty much the same. Yes, you get less time to prepare for a TV show but over the years, I have become used to it.

Which is your favourite medium to work on? Will it be TV?

I would definitely say that OTT and films are much better to work on. But yeah, like I said, I will always have a soft corner for TV and I will never be ashamed of being called a TV actor because meri jo pehchaan aur fan following hai, wo ussi ke wajah se hai. Now slowly, OTT is also catching up. Jitne log mujhe Anupamaa aur Kumkum Bhagya ke liye aake milte hai, utne he log mujhe Aashram ke liye aake mil rahe hai. I just feel that it's great to have an all-rounded audience. It's a good feeling to know that kahin na kahin aap logon ke dil tak pahunch rahe hai.

You've been in the industry for over 20 years, if I am not wrong.

24 and counting...

Great! How has the journey been like?

Yeah, the journey has been fantastic. And I just feel that I'm very blessed that you know, even after all these years, I'm getting to work. I'm getting to work on very exciting projects now. People are willing to experiment with me like in Miya, Biwi Aur Murder. It's been a great journey. Of course, it's had its ups and downs. Hamari industry mein bahut saari disappointments bhi aapko jhelni padti hai. You have to sacrifice your family time. All that is there but I just simply love what my journey has been.

You've played different characters on different shows and films as well. So is there any particular character that you'd like to play, that you haven't had the chance to play yet?

No, actually, I think with Miya, Biwi Aur Murder and Judaa Hoke Bhi, I've played absolutely diverse characters in both very different and challenging projects. Ab mujhe sochna padega ke what is next that I would like to do or I would like to play. I haven't thought of it but I will definitely like to think about it. As of now, I just want to wait and watch what the audiences have to say about these two characters.